By Mariella Mendez
For the past 6 months, we’ve all had to conform to mask-wearing and keeping several feet apart from one another. Although many can argue that keeping a distance isn’t half bad, it is safe to say that a majority of people have trouble managing their daily lives with a mask on all day. Whether you’ve chosen to get creative and make your own, or simply buy them, masks are can present an inconvenience to all. We’ve even had to adopt new terms since the introduction of mask-wearing such as “maskne” and unfortunately, it isn’t another way to market skin-care products, but an actual irritation of the skin. Considering there are still a few more weeks left of warm weather, here are some tips for all the mask wearers.
1. Choose your mask material wisely
Consider a mask made of 100% cotton to allow the skin to breathe. Cotton allows for the sweat to evaporate rather than block the pores. Masks with various fabrics are being sold everywhere and although they may appear trendy, fashionable, or less irritating, in reality, they do not protect you properly and are also overly abrasive to the surface of our skin. Some fabrics trap heat making it the mask more intolerable to wear. Treat your masks like an article of clothing, once you wear it, you should wash it. If you use a reusable mask, it must be washed daily otherwise dispose of them and use a new one.
2. Simplify your skincare
Most people tend to have simplistic skincare routines, however if you’re anything like me, your skincare routine consists of chemical exfoliants and active ingredients. The best thing to do to prevent any irritation or breakouts from the sweat is to cleanse your face properly and apply a thick layer of moisturizer before leaving your house. The moisturizer acts as a barrier between your skin and the fabric and will reduce friction directly to your skin. No matter what, do not forget SPF! The mask is not blocking UV rays.
3. Breakup with your makeup
Chances are no one is seeing your face and that you are wearing sunglasses to create a disguise!